Worker Crushed

An investigation has been launched into how a worker was crushed beneath a steel girder on a building site in Hampshire.

The incident, on the site of a £380m gas-fired power station in Marchwood, saw the victim trapped under the girder for almost an hour before firefighters were able to free him.

Using a hand-operated winch and an airbag with a lifting capacity of 56 tonnes firefighters managed to raise the girder while paramedics administered first aid.

Police confirmed he had been taken to hospital with "serious but not life-threatening" injuries.

A Marchwood Power spokesman said: "A Polish contractor was carrying out work on the site when the accident happened. He was conscious and talking but we don't yet know the extent of his injuries.

"Marchwood Power will carry out its own investigation into what went wrong.

"The company places a great deal of emphasis on health and safety and the avoidance of accidents and clearly an incident of this nature needs to be investigated."

Copyright © PA Business 2008